Living

Travel postcards from readers

Hoi An, Vietnam The photographer: Sue Fossum of Sacramento Behind the lens: In January I was part of a team of 14 in Quang Ngai, Vietnam, for a two-week surgical mission trip providing free reconstructive surgery on children – cleft lip/palate repairs as well as burn reconstruction. Another nurse and I decided to stay on a few extra days to sightsee in Hoi An, a UNESCO Heritage site found on the central coast in Vietnam. Also known as the Lantern Town, Hoi An has a fascinating mixed history of French, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures. I had the opportunity to walk down small alleyways and find some amazing glimpses of color and architecture. I saw these puppets down a small back alleyway behind a French colonial home. The wooden puppets were all gathered outside in a courtyard. I loved the addition of the umbrella that was placed there – it was raining that day! Sue Fossum

Tasiilaq a colorful hamlet in Greenland: The photographer: Lou Padgug of Sacramento
Behind the lens: We recently completed a cruise of the North Atlantic from Edinburgh, Scotland to Norway, Iceland and Greenland. Our port in Greenland was the town of Tasiilaq. With just over 2,000 inhabitants, it is the most populous community on the eastern coast, and the seventh-largest town in Greenland. The fog and low clouds obscured the surrounding mountains but accentuated the remoteness of this town. Lou Padgug of Sacramento

Performing for the tourists in Estonia: While on a short visit to Tallinn, Estonia (via the Baltic Queen ferry from Stockholm, Sweden) in June, I came across a couple of street musicians on the stone path between the upper city of Tallinn (Toompea) and the Old Town below. This musician is playing some kind of Baltic autoharp, and he’s thoroughly basking in the late morning sunshine while enthusiastically busking for the tourists’ euros. Send us your best shots
The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee. Karl Okamoto of Elk Grove.

Peaceful lake found in Desolation Wilderness
Behind the lens: Early morning in Desolation Wilderness. Pyramid Peak and Mount Agassiz are reflected in the glassy calm of Lake Aloha.
Photographer: Stan Jones of Sacramento
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A church where the doors are always open
Behind the lens: This is a photo taken on a recent trip to the island of St. Barts in the French West Indies. It depicts St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, circa 1855, at Regent Park, Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy. The anchor is from a British warship circa the 18th century.
The photographer: Mike Brandt of El Dorado Hills
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Basking in the peaceful glow
Behind the lens: Late at night at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco – very peaceful.
The photographer: Nicholas Rotas of Sacramento
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Standing on the edge of history
Behind the lens: After dreaming of visiting Stonehenge for years, standing in front of the stones was very emotional for my husband and I. Incredibly majestic and beautiful.
The photographer: Donna Ruiz of Cameron Park
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Clouds float above village in Austria
Behind the lens: This is a photo of the village of Hallstatt, Austria, from October 2015.
Photographer: Kathy Lynn of El Dorado Hills
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“Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Blue Angels soar over Maryland
Behind the lens: In late May of this year my husband and I had the privilege of going to the graduation of a friend from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Just as the Blue Angels were about to fly over the stadium the announcer said, “And here they come!” I lifted my cellphone and captured this photograph. It was one lucky shot with all six planes in the frame.
Photographer: Joan Stafford of Foresthill
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“Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A river runs through Rome
Behind the lens: After my recent trip to Rome, I thought other readers might be interested in this photo at a Roman riverfront, considering everyone’s interest in Sacramento’s riverfronts: St. Peter’s Basilica on the Tiber River in Rome. The massive structure, here in the background, is cavernously opulent inside, grandly inspiring outside, and beautiful at night. The vendor and entertainment tents dotted all up and down the river like those pictured in the foreground here come alive long after dark. They have many different types of music at different locations, and the ones here had a terrific Dixieland band.
The photographer: Rick Maness of Rancho Cordova
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“Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Catch a frozen wave
Behind the lens: An iceberg imitates the shape of a wave in Antarctica.
The photographer: Tina Thomas of Sacramento
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“Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Cozy up to a pride of lions in Botswana
Behind the lens: This May 2016 photo was taken at Chobe National Park in Botswana while on a safari game drive.
The photographer: Karen Jakobovits of Sacramento
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Postcards from Readers
Fancy meeting you in Akumal, Mexico
The photographer: David Schmitz of North Natomas
Behind the lens: This photo is from a recent trip we made to Akumal, Mexico. While snorkeling in Yal-Ku Lagoon, I raised up to find this bird. We stayed in a condo on the beach at Half Moon Bay and also made a short trip to Tuluum to visit the Mayan ruins.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

These goats climb trees
The photographer: Mary Beth Montgomery of Gold River
Behind the lens: There really are nine goats in this argan tree in southwestern Morocco. The argan tree produces a fruit that attracts the goats up onto its branches. The fruit has a thick peel and pulp surrounding an almond-shaped nut. The goats love the fruit and are happily willing to climb out on the shaky branches to feast. Argan nuts pass through the digestive system of a tree goat whole. Once they are excreted, people gather them from the goat’s droppings. Argan oil is extracted from the nuts by several women’s co-operatives in the area and is sold as a luxury item.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Painterly landscape in the Yukon
The photographer: Stacy Sheehan of Davis
Behind the lens: This is one of the many lakes you will see along the road while driving through the Yukon Territory. This was taken while I was on a cruise to Alaska.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

12th-century temple in Angkor, Cambodia
The photographer: John Fleischman of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: Ta Som is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built near the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. I took this photo during the early morning hours before the arrival of most tourists. I was particularly fascinated by how the large ficus tree has grown over the temple ruins.
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Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco
The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln
Behind the lens: The Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco has captivated guests for more than a century. This gem of Victorian architecture is the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America. The building has a wing for butterflies. It was very cool to see them happy and flying all around us.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

The photographer: Chris Allan of Sacramento
Behind the lens: I was fortunate enough to get up to Victoria, British Columbia for a few days over break. Besides visiting a cousin I had not seen for a very long time, the other highlight was a walking photography tour of Ross Bay Cemetery. It is the oldest cemetery in Western Canada, a Victorian-era burial ground, with many famous Canadians buried in it. My favorite monument was the “Pooley Angel,” erected in memory of lawyer and politician Charles Edward Pooley in 1912. Over the years she has been vandalized many times, and she is rumored to cry during a full moon. I thought the cracks in her face looked like tears, and yet she seemed to exude a gentle, soft compassion.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Another perspective on New York City
The photographer: Carol Dahmen of Carmichael
Behind the lens: This was taken at the Westin Hotel in Times Square in New York City. This view is looking 27 stories down to 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue. You also have a beautiful view of four rooftop terraces atop the building across the street.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

It’s peacock-strutting time in Nebraska
The photographer: Val Balagot of Antelope
Behind the lens: While visiting my daughter Genny in Omaha, Neb., we spent a day at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. It is the home of more than 17,000 animals and its Desert Dome is the world’s largest indoor desert, located under the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome. We encountered this proud peacock struttin’ his stuff on the zoo grounds. His iridescent plumage made him a sight you didn’t want to miss.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Starting their journey
The photographer: John Fleischman of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: During a recent trip to Southeast Asia, we visited Hoi An, a well-preserved historic town located on the central coast of Vietnam. The city is a fascinating mix of architectural styles including colorful temples, French colonial buildings, and ornate Vietnamese tube houses. Hoi An is a popular city for destination weddings from couples throughout the world. I shot this photograph of a wedding couple celebrating their marriage and wishing for a good life by launching floating candles down the Thu Bon River.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

After a spring rain
The photographer: Robyn Franks of Auburn
Behind the lens: For the first time in over 20 years, the spillway at Lake Davis was allowed to overflow. I captured this shot just after a spring rain at dawn when I walked to the base of the dam.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A hike to Panamint City
The photographer: Amanda Hofflander of Cameron Park
Behind the lens: I took a backpacking trip my father and brother in early April to the ghost town Panamint City, deep in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley. The city can only be reached by a tough backpacking trip, and only a handful of people reach the city each year. It’s hard to imagine backpacking through the desert would be lush, but some of the way we were surprised by green canyons with waterfalls and pools. It was super challenging but worth it all!
Panamint City was washed away by a massive flash flood in 1876, killing over 500 people. The town was vacant for 100 years until miners in the late 1970s came back and restored some of the town. In 1983, a similar massive flash flood wiped the town out again. Luckily, everybody survived. The town has been vacant ever since, which has made it a popular destination for hikers – some cabins remain standing and if you’re lucky, you can find open mines in the hills.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A view of Los Torres
The photographer: Joe Marcotte of Folsom
Behind the lens: These photos are of Los Torres (The Towers), the unique geologic formations for which Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, are named.
The photos were taken this January from Base del Las Torres. Getting there required a two-hour horseback ride up the Ascencio Valley to Refugio Chileno, where we parted company with our steeds. From there, it was a two-hour hike with an altitude gain of roughly 1,500 feet. The trek upward to Las Torres started in a lovely beech forest, crossing ice-cold mountain streams, and then transitioning to a steep and extremely rocky path threading along glacial moraines. We experienced rain, snow showers and winds up to 50 mph on our way up the mountain, all normal conditions for a Patagonian summer, and all worth it for the view.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Surfer and turtles on the beach in Maui
The photographer: Harley Hansen of Sacramento
Behind the lens: I was talking to some fellow vacationers in Maui at the customary sunset gathering time. A neighbor there told me about Ho’okipa beach where the turtles haul out to rest on the sand. Although they do not lay eggs there, they have been resting there for the last five years or so, according to the people gathered to see them. The surfer gives some perspective to see how big they are.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

August morning in Avignon
The photographer: Alan Lampe of Folsom
Behind the lens: This photo was taken last summer as we enjoyed a tour of Avignon, France, while on a river cruise down the Rhone River. It was a quiet morning and couldn’t have been more photogenic.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A cold pause in the action on Interstate 80
The photographer: Jay Hansell of Auburn
Behind the lens: This photo was taken on a cold, 9-degree morning in December. 60 miles east of Wendover, Utah, the Lincoln Highway, Interstate 80, slowly descends down onto the Great Salt Desert. In the 1840s, westward emigrants traveled this route across the desert on 130-mile Hastings Cutoff. In all my years of traveling Interstate 80 I’ve never seen it devoid of cars and trucks.

A Paris bridge: Pont Alexandre III
Photographer: John C. Rogers of Elk Grove
Behind the lens: My mom had a lifelong wish to visit Paris. My sister, my wife and I saved up and took her to Paris in 2012. While in Paris, I fell in love with the Pont Alexandre III. The Pont Alexandre is a deck arch bridge that spans the Seine in Paris. I’ve labeled the bridge “The Most Artistic Bridge in the World.” I’m a civil engineer by trade and was really moved by this beautiful bridge during our Paris trip. I wish we could build more artistic structures today.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Fishing boat – Vernazza, Cinque Terra, Italy
The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: This is a photo of a classic fishing boat stored along the main street in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy, situated along the shore of the Ligurian Sea. Vernazza is the fourth (south to north) of five small coastal fishing towns that were accessible only by sea in the past. There is now a walking path and a train connecting the villages to the town of La Spezia. We arrived by boat and returned by train.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Otter moms and pups at Morro Bay
The photographer: Terry Pappas of Sacramento
Behind the lens: We came upon this magical nursery in a sheltered spot along the Morro Bay harbor. About two dozen otter moms were lazing in the sun while caressing and preening their offspring of various ages.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Hope Valley homestead
The photographer: Phil Reedy of Davis
Behind the lens: The recent snows have produced some beautiful scenes in the Sierra like these rustic cabins along Highway 88 near Carson Pass.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Burano, a small island off Venice
The photographer: Maribel Arizmendiz from Rancho Cordova
Behind the lens: Burano is an island off Venice, Italy, famous for lace-making and pastel-colored homes. Legend was that fishermen painted their houses to see them from long distances when they were far away for fishing.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee

Postcards from Readers
The Temple of Heaven in Beijing
The photographer: Nikki Carr
Behind the lens: Taken during a fall trip to China, this photograph in Beijing is of the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for a good harvest since the early Qing Dynasty.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Wildebeest in Tanzania
The photographer: Carey Krantz of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photograph was taken while on safari in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. During the continuous migration, thousands of wildebeest cross the Mara River to seek out fresh grazing land. As the animals descend the banks to enter the river they stir up dust creating what appears to be fog.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Beauty on view in Iceland
The photographer: Jim West of El Dorado Hills
Behind the lens: My wife and I traveled to Iceland recently. We loved the area so much that we plan to return. It is a quick flight from the West Coast and then entry to Europe. I teach photography at Cosumnes River College, and I love to share my adventures while teaching photography.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Street artist captures his own Mona Lisa
The photographer: Louie Campos of West Sacramento
Behind the lens: Last summer while waiting to enter the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy, a street artist was drawing his own Mona Lisa. I could not resist taking her photo. Her dream-like look captured the artistic and cultural elegance of the moment and place.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

The non-ringing Tsar Bell at the Kremlin
The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento
Behind the lens: The Tsar Bell, or Royal Bell, is on display on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin. The bell was broken during metal casting and has never been rung. The bell is the largest bell in the world, weighing 445,166 pounds, with a height of 20.1 feet and a diameter of 22 feet, and thickness of up to 24 inches. The broken slab alone weighs 25,400 pounds. This picture shows the Tsar Bell with humans for perspective.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park
The photographer: David M. Brown of Sacramento
Behind the lens: I took this photo while my wife and I were sitting on a dock, admiring the view, and waiting for the sunset. The only activity on the lake was a boy paddle-boarding with his dog. It was one of those relaxing, peaceful moments that you never want to end.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Making friends over tea
The photographer: Mike Pierce of Citrus Heights
Behind the lens: We took a guided camel ride earlier this year in Morocco, on the outskirts of Marrakech, which included tea service by some local Berbers. In the Moroccan tea ceremony, boiling water is poured over fresh spearmint, dried tea leaves and sugar in a silver pot and then poured slowly into ornate and fragile glasses. As is tradition, the pouring was done from a height of 12 or so inches, high enough to create foam at the top of the glass. If there’s no foam, than the tea is bad and you should start over. The sweet fragrance is immediately detectable as the scent of fresh mint fills the air. In the Moroccan culture an invitation to drink tea is a meaningful thing. When you travel to Morocco, you can bond with new friends and meet wonderful people over a simple pot of tea.
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The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Scenic
in Seattle
The photographer: Mark Halverson of Fair Oaks
Behind the lens: Not all the scenic views at the Seattle Center are from atop the Space Needle. This shot was taken underneath two of the five Sonic Bloom sculptures that mark the entrance to the Pacific Science Center. The flowers not only change colors but also are equipped with hidden sensors that trigger a series of harmonic notes whenever movement in the immediate area is detected.
Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Crocodile farm in southern Ethiopia
The photographer: Christian Reinheimer
Behind the lens: In the last half of October, my father and I returned to Ethiopia to visit the southern region of the country. Once there we experienced a vast landscape of lush farmland, expansive lakes, and a rich diversity of wildlife, including this crocodile at Arba Minch Crocodile Farm at Lake Abaya. We also had the privilege of witnessing the tribal peoples of the south, where the modern world has barely made an impact on their way of life. It was a life-changing journey and one that my father and I will never forget.
Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

On the banks of Lake Bohinj in Slovenia
The photographer: Mark Stewart of Roseville
Behind the lens: This is the Church of St. John the Baptist on the banks of Lake Bohinj in Slovenia, taken in July of 2014.
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Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

An ancient Italian hilltop town
The photographer: Steven Rikala of Sacramento
Behind the lens: Overwhelmed with awe was my first emotion I felt seeing Civita, Italy, for the first time from a bluff in Bagnoregio. The only link to the world is a long pedestrian-only bridge. The town of was an important part of the Etruscan civilization going back more than 2,500 years. It grew because of its location on an important trading route and proximity to Orvieto. Civita and its neighboring city of Bagnoregio were once connected by a more direct path. However, slow erosion of the canyon walls and a 1695 earthquake contributed to the demise of the town. Today the soft tufa rock continues to slowly erode into the canyon. Several concepts are being explored to stabilize the rock including the introduction of large steel stabilizing rods. Time will tell.
SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS
Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

View from Angel Island
The photographer: Tom Gomes of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: I am a photographer and a sea kayaker. I led a small group of Sacramento Sea Kayakers on a paddle, with the intention of viewing and photographing Fleet Week from two unique locations. The best vantage point to view the Parade of Ships was from the water about 100 yards south of Alcatraz. Shooting from a kayak on the San Francisco Bay can be very challenging because the water is active and can easily move you away from your target. Because the water was so active, we kept drifting toward the secured zone around the ships and were directed by the Coast Guard to move back toward Alcatraz Island. We then paddled over to Angel Island (about 1.5 miles) and hiked to a very remote location to photograph the air show from noon to 4 p.m. This location has panoramic views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge and provided an incredible background to view and photograph the air show.
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A vendor in Trinidad, Cuba
The photographer: Tom Mingee of Sacramento
Behind the lens: Taken in Trinidad, Cuba, this photo shows a young man – not posed – tending his vegetable stand and looking very cool. All Cubans need some enterprise to supplement their very basic government support.

Iguazu Falls, South America
The photographer: Debbie Desselle of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photo was taken during our September visit to Iguazu Falls at Iguazu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Argentina. I took this photo on the Upper Circuit trail in late afternoon.
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Iguazu Falls, South America
The photographer: Debbie Desselle of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photo was taken during our September visit to Iguazu Falls at Iguazu National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site in Argentina. I took this photo on the Upper Circuit trail in late afternoon.
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Monet’s garden bursts with color
The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento
Behind the lens: On a trip through Europe with my mom, we managed to visit quite a few amazing gardens. Claude Monet’s garden in Giverney, France, was simply stunning. Wandering through the lush pathways with each turn, my impression was that I had stepped into one of the pages of the artist’s many books. Amazingly wild, yet beautifully manicured, the garden was bursting with bright, vibrant colors. Monet’s house stands in the distance, lovingly painted in dusty pink with its distinctive green shutters, and seemed to rise above the lush blanket of beautiful blooms.
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Pig-n-Ford races in Oregon
The photographer: Keegan Morris of Sacramento
Behind the lens: In mid-August, the Tillamook County Fair featured the 92nd annual Pig-n-Ford races in Tillamook, Ore. A local tradition, contestants line up on the outside edge of the track. At the starting pistol, they run to grab their pig from their box, spin around to run to their car to crank-start the engine, then slip into the car with the pig held tight, and start driving. Drivers must complete three laps and pigs are exchanged after each lap. Racers must hold onto their pigs or they are disqualified. Two heats are raced each night with the final race being held on the last night of the Fair for the coveted title Pig-n-Ford World Champion.
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Boating in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
The photographer: Eldon Tucker
Behind the lens: Ha Long Bay is located in Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thousands of limestone karsts and islets rise randomly from the ocean floor. This expanse of nearly 1,600 square kilometers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and at any one time, the area is dotted with fishing boats and excursion junks. The picture was taken from an excursion junk as it leisurely passed several fishing villages and breathtaking caves.
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Shooting stars – with creativity
The photographer: Keaten Tuttle of Newcastle
Behind the lens: My 17-year-old son, Keaten, took this self-portrait recently on the beach in Watsonville near Moss Landing. There was very little “light pollution” at midnight, and he explained his method as “a 25 second exposure, an aperture of 3.5, an 18-millimeter lens and 3200 ISO.” Over my head for sure. I am just his mom! – Fiona Tuttle
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Majestic Mississippi morning
The photographer: Dan Wettstein of Davis
Behind the lens: An early morning on the Mississippi River, taken near Baton Rouge, La., in March.
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A setting suitable for a queen
The photographer: Donna Ruiz of Cameron Park
Behind the lens: The beautiful Windsor Castle, weekend and summer home of the Queen. It is easy to imagine the queen sitting on the bench, enjoying afternoon tea with her corgis at her feet. Such a magical place.
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Cliffs of Moher: Out on a ledge
The photographer: Averi Gerberding of Rocklin
Behind the lens: The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland were a sight to see, no doubt about it. There are many dangerous ledges, making it a perfect spot for thrill-seekers like my boyfriend.
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Jizo statues serve as protectors
The photographer: Chris Kemp of Roseville
Behind the lens: This is a wall of Jizo statues (protector of women, children, and travelers) on the grounds of the Hase-Dera temple in Kamakura, Japan.
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Great Wall of China
The photographer: Alan Stolmack of Sacramento
Behind the lens: In April of this year my wife and I visited China. We traveled to the Great Wall at Mutianyu with its Ming-era towers on a gray and misty day – finding no crowds, but spring blooms everywhere.
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Discovering sacred sites in Africa
The photographer: Teresa Licholai of Sacramento
Behind the lens: During my trip to Ethiopia, we visited many of the country’s rock-hewn churches. This picture is of the famous Bete Giyorgis (St. George) church in the city of Lalibela, which was sculptured from monolithic rock during the late 12th or early 13th century. It is always open to the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and inside there is a copy of Ark of Covenant.
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Hotel Albani staircase in Rome
The photographer: Val Balagot of Antelope
Behind the lens: From the top floor of Hotel Albani in Rome, I shot this architectural wonder. The spiral staircase winds down six stories to the dining hall.
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A beacon at Beagle Channel
The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: A striking lighthouse emerges from a lichen-encrusted shore along the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia, Argentina.
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Southern Spain
The photographer: Bob Wilthew of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: On a recent two-week motorcycle tour with IMTBike through southern Spain and Portugal, we had a one-night stay at the Parador Arcos de la Frontera. We were relaxing in the bar sipping our drinks and enjoying the view out a huge window that overlooked the valley below. Ken Lee, a moto-journalist who was on our tour as a writer for Rider Magazine, came in from the patio and mentioned that with the sun about to go down, we should be able to get some great photos, so my husband went outside and was able to capture the beauty of one of the white towns on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos. – Lois Wilthew
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Picking up pieces in South Africa
The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: This photograph was taken in South Africa at Royal Malewane Lodge near Kruger Park. Three white-backed vultures were cleaning up a lion-killed wildebeest carcass.
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‘Laundromat’ in Mumbai, India
The photographer: Laurie Heller of Sacramento
Behind the lens: The 140-year-old dhobi ghat in the Mahalaxmi area of Mumbai is a huge outdoor “laundromat.” It’s estimated that a half-million pieces of clothing are picked up from homes, hospitals and hotels each day, washed, beaten clean, hung to dry, and within a day returned, crisply pressed, to their owner.
These photos were taken from the flyover bridge by the railway station on a recent trip to India. You can see the rows of open-air concrete wash tubs used by the dhobi wallahs (laundry workers), who code each item with a mark identifying its owner. Several hundred dhobis and their families live and work at the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. It is an occupation that is passed down from generation to generation.
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Bisons head out in Yellowstone
The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln
Behind the lens: We traveled to America’s first national park, Yellowstone. Our first day, we were able to see a few bison. They are quite a sight, as they are huge and unpredictable.
Many of the female bison’s had recently given birth and had their calves close to their sides. One day, the bison were on the move, all of them. It was best to stay back and out of their the way.
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The photographer: Michael Brandt of El Dorado Hills
Behind the lens: The Halászbástya or Fisherman’s Bastion is a terrace fortress wall in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube River, Budapest, Hungary.
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Malawi bike taxis: ‘Sacramentos’
The photographer: William J. Sweeney of Sacramento
Behind the lens: As my wife and I were driving along a narrow two-lane road in southeast Malawi, we passed thousands of bicycles, many of which are frequently used as taxis by locals. This one caught my eye because of the plate on the back when we were so far from home. I discovered later that in northern Malawi, bicycle taxis are commonly called “Sacramentos.”
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Emerald Lake, British Columbia
The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento
Behind the lens: A canoe cuts through the pristine glacier water in a beautiful afternoon at Emerald Lake, Canada, in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. The vivid turquoise color of the water and the surrounding mountain range is spectacular to see.
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Above San Blas Islands, Panama
The photographer: Clay Taft of Fair Oaks
Behind the lens: My son and I sailed through the San Blas Islands of Panama on a kiteboarding adventure in January. This is an early morning kiteboard session, launching from one of the unnamed islands.
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Postcards From Readers
A bunch o’ pups
The photographer: Tim Viall of Stockton
Behind the lens: Sled dogs vie for attention after a day of giving dogsled rides to visitors at the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort in Whitefish, Mont., in early February. The dogs were a very energetic and friendly bunch.
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McArthur-Burney Falls state park
The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln
Behind the lens: I was traveling to Redding and took a few minutes out of my trip to see the falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. No matter what time of the year you visit the falls, they are always running at full blast. The water comes from an underground river that runs all year.
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Patagonia region of Chile
The photographer: June Bate of Roseville
Behind the lens: While hiking in the Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile, we came across this little gray fox taking a nap. He scolded us for waking him.
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U Bein footbridge in Myanmar
The photographer: Marjorie Gelus, Carmichael
Behind the lens: Visitors cross or sit on the 200-year-old teak U Bein footbridge over Taungthaman Lake at sunset in the ancient royal capital of Amapura, Myanmar, on Jan. 27.
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Postcards From Readers
The tree tunnel beckons
Photographer: Allison McAuliffe,
Sacramento
Location: Cypress tree tunnel,
Point Reyes State Park
There’s a hidden treasure to be found when traveling to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Along this road you will find this beautiful tunnel of cypress trees. This photo was taken around 2 p.m., when the sun was strong enough to let light shine through the tall cypress trees.
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Salmon running in Trinity County
The photographer: John Bernard
Behind the lens: This photo was taken below Lewiston Lake dam at sunrise on opening day for the steelhead salmon run.
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Rain arrives at Lake Tahoe
The photographer: Gregory P. Wayland of Gold River
Behind the lens: This photo was taken at South Lake Tahoe. I escaped up there for a little while on Sunday. I took this photo around 4 p.m. That’s when the rain came after first blowing in from the valley. It is a shot of the western shore in South Lake Tahoe, with Mount Tallac on the far left. The birds are all facing into the wind.
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Heart Lake looking north
The photographer: Mark Rasmussen of Dunsmuir/Sacramento
Behind the lens: A long-awaited trip to Northern California for Thanksgiving to show our daughter’s out-of-state boyfriend there is way more than San Francisco and Tahoe looked to be doomed by an ill-timed storm. The next day showed a light powdery snow as far as the eye could see, and our planned hike to Heart Lake above Castle Lake seemed possible. Once we got to the ridge above Heart Lake, the view to the north was spectacular – Castle Lake, Mount Eddy, Black Butte and, of course, Mount Shasta seemed close enough to touch.
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Bald eagle in Klamath Basin
The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln
Behind the lens: While I was visiting friends in Klamath Falls, I decided to go out and see if I could find any bald eagles. Yes, they had come down from the north, looking to get out of the cold. I spent hours out in Klamath Basin, watching the bald eagles.
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Myanmar fisherman at sunset
The photographer: Julie Fisher of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This fisherman was at Inle Lake, Myanmar, where the tradition is to row the boat with one leg, leaving the arms free to work the fishing nets.
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Surma tribe member, Ethiopia
The photographer: Anna Skacel of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photograph was taken in the Omo Valley in Ethiopia in November 2015, where the Surma tribe members decorate themselves in the most creative ways. It took three days of solid driving by Land Cruiser to get there. There were no hotels or stores to be seen, which meant we had to camp. Unfortunately, our time was cut short because of tribal tensions after two people were killed on our third night there by a neighboring tribe.
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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln
Behind the lens: A visit to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park took my breath away. The trees – yes, the trees – so tall, so old. I walked the park path, passing tree after tree, looking for the best pace to take a photo that showed the true size of these trees. I looked up, snapped this photo of the trees reaching far into the sky! They seem to go on forever.

Koalas in southeast Australia
The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento
Behind the lens: I was lucky enough to come across these cute little koalas at a wildlife park in the state of Victoria, Australia. They were totally unaware of my presence and probably full of eucalyptus leaves, perhaps quite happily dreaming their day away.

Street musicians playing in Havana
The photographer: Joe Phelan of Lincoln
Behind the lens: These Cuban street musicians had picked a good place in a restored part of Havana to play hoping for tips from tourists. It was just outside the old cathedral in a tourist area of town that had been restored – unlike so much of Havana. Framed by the bright blue door, they made for a nice photo.

Holy man in Varanasi, India
The photographer: Gary Stock of Sacramento
Behind the lens: I was walking the ghats (steps for bathers leading to a riverbank) along the Ganges River in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, India. I had just been to see the nightly ceremony for the sacred river when I passed this Brahmin who was meditating on a ledge on the ghats.

Hanging with hippos in South Africa
The photographer: Walt Hess of Elk Grove
Behind the lens: While on a trip to South Africa in May, we visited the Sabi Sands, an area of the Greater Kruger Park, specifically Arathua Game Lodge. The game was plentiful, and we had a great time. I took this photo with my Canon T2i and a Sigma 150-500mm lens.

Bee-eaters in Zimbabwe
The photographer: Chris Smith of Sacramento
Behind the lens: We were visiting Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe last spring. I woke up with the sun and walked down to the patio that overlooks the watering hole, hoping to photograph some wildlife. Not much was moving yet, but I saw these little bee-eaters darting around. It was a cool morning, and they were huddled up for warmth. As one zipped in, another would squeeze over or fly off. It only lasted for a few minutes before they all darted away in various directions. A lovely sight to start the day.

Tribute to a city’s miners
Photographer: Dylan Sarron of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This statue in Karaganda, Kazakhstan is a monument to the miners who helped build the city with the rich coal deposits found below the original city site.

Postcards From Readers
Los Uros toddler
The photographer: Steven Steinbrecher of Pollock Pines
Behind the lens: On a trip to the Islands of Los Uros, a native people who live on floating reeds on Lake Titicaca in Peru at over 13,000 feet, I had the opportunity to meet this very interested and friendly young boy I met while bargaining with his mother in order to purchase some wall tapestries. Los Uros are remarkable in that although they live less than two miles from the city of Puno, they rarely leave their islands of reeds, unless they are leaving the tribe for good.

Postcards From Readers: Waterfalls in western Iceland
The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photo was taken during a week’s visit in Iceland. This country so exceeded expectations. “No trees,” we heard, but there are incredibly beautiful waterfalls everywhere, amazing glacial flows, wonderful, soothing hot springs and spectacular geysers – just for starters! This particular falls complex is named “Glymur” and is located about 2 hours northwest of Reykjavik. Very little is written about it in the tour guides but many locals know of it.
Waterfalls in western Iceland
The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This photo was taken during a week’s visit in Iceland. This country so exceeded expectations. “No trees,” we heard, but there are incredibly beautiful waterfalls everywhere, amazing glacial flows, wonderful, soothing hot springs and spectacular geysers – just for starters! This particular falls complex is named “Glymur” and is located about 2 hours northwest of Reykjavik. Very little is written about it in the tour guides but many locals know of it.

Clouds dance around ‘El Cap’
The photographer: Ted Holm, Lincoln
Behind the lens: Every time I go to Yosemite National Park, I see different things. This time, as I viewed the valley from the famous “Tunnel View,” I saw the clouds swirling around El Capitan. I can’t wait to make another trip.

Silhouette serenity in Bali
The photographer: Kim Goosmann of Sacramento
Behind the lens: We had the opportunity to travel to Bali and to experience the beautiful culture. We were staying near the Tanan Lot Temple. One day as we were walking along, I noticed someone meditating up on the stones and was captured by the beauty of the ocean and the connection between human and environment. The moment was simple but yet so powerful. I was very captivated by the beauty of Bali and the happiness and joy expressed by the people.

Dancing little monk in Myanmar
The photographer: Cindy Besemer of Sacramento
Behind the lens: While visiting Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, last March, I saw this very young Buddhist monk with other monks. He was skipping and laughing like any young child.

Golden glow of Paris in August
The photographer: Jaime Garza of Sacramento
Behind the lens: After enjoying a fantastic dinner with friends at their Paris home in August, we walked around the corner to enjoy this spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the wonderful people of France (family and friends) during this difficult time.

Surprise visitor
in France
The photographer: Christine Weinstein of midtown Sacramento
Behind the lens: When my husband, Dave Jones, and I were visiting France in May and June, we spent a relaxing week in the gîte (rental house) of the Mangane family. We were the first Americans to ever stay at their gîte near the medieval town of Désaignes in the Rhône-Alps. One day their son stopped by with a juvenile bird that had fallen out of a tree. The boy fed and looked after the young bird, protecting it from roaming cats. The bird stayed perched on the boy for two days. The day after this photo was taken, the bird flew off.

Dresden
on a dreamy
evening
The photographer: Alan Lampe, Folsom
Behind the lens: This evening scene was taken in Dresden, Germany, in September. My wife, Marci, and I were on a tour with friends of Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. The day had been filled with museums, art and history. The beautiful evening was a fine finish to the day.

A friendly face at Machu Picchu
The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay
Behind the lens: On a trip to Machu Picchu outside of Cusco, Peru, we were greeted by one of the very few residents. The encounter was brief but pleasant.

The photographer: John Modin of El Dorado Hills
Behind the lens: In the 160,000-acre Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve near the southwestern section of Kruger National Park in South Africa, an adult male leopard from an 8-foot termite mound surveys his territory for unwelcome male trespassers. We followed him for nearly an hour, watching him survey and mark the limits of his territorial boundary before he entered steep terrain where we were unable to follow. We were also fortunate to capture incredible close-up photos of elephants and rhinoceros on this safari adventure.

Postcards From Readers: Falling in love with Point Lobos
The photographer: Mel Kinoshita of Roseville
Behind the lens: On a spring day, my future wife-to-be, lovely Melissa, and I walked the scenic oceanfront trails and had a picnic lunch at Point Lobos. Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, and a beautiful lady!

Cruise
ship
stop in
Vietnam
The photographer: Henry Saunders of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This shot was taken in a small village in Vietnam. This was the first time a cruise line had taken a small number of tourists to this town, and the villagers were very curious and kind to us. After taking this photo, the woman gave my husband one of her flowers. He tried to give her money in exchange but she would not accept it. I love the expression on her face.

Peyto Lake, Alberta, Canada
The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento
Behind the lens: Peyto Lake in Banff National Park is a striking sight. Its blue color comes from glacier rock flour that flows into the lake during the summer. Notice the right side of the lake is shaped like a wolf’s head. This is nature at its best.

Lobster fishing in Nicaragua
The photographer: David Schmitz of Natomas Park
Behind the lens: While visiting Nicaragua, we took a side trip to the Big Corn Island (Las Islas del Maiz), located around 50 miles off the Caribbean coast of the country. We flew to the island from Managua on a single engine 12-seat plane and stayed in a beach bungalow only about 15 steps from the water. Lobster fishing, the main industry of the island, includes many family operations, like these local lobster fishermen who are preparing lobster traps.

Temple in Kyoto, Japan
The photographer: Lorena Esparza of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This is Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan. I recently visited Japan with my classmates, and it was an experience I will never forget. When I visited the temple, the humidity was unbearable, Chinese tourists scrambled to take pictures, but in the end the shot was worth it. This temple was purely built to show the wealth of the shogun and that he was just as fit as the emperor. Kyoto is an amazing city to visit if you are interested in seeing traditional Japan.

Rail station near Giverny, France
The photographer: Shirley Hall of Citrus Heights
Behind the lens: This shot of an old Frenchman was taken by my wife, Shirley Hall, in May this year after our visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France. She took it while we were waiting for a train to return us to Paris. The man appears to be proofreading or editing some sort of document.

Exploring an exotic garden
The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento
Behind the lens: On a recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, my mom and I did a two-hour tour of the botanical gardens located in town. The beautiful garden created by an artist is full of native plants including exotic cacti, agaves and succulents all laid out and connected by a series pathways, borders and bridges.

Fort in India
The photographer: Georgene Redmann of Davis
Behind the lens: As we entered the Ranthambore Fort in India, pilgrims were coming down the steps after visiting the Ganesh temple.

Zion National Park, Utah
The photographer: Rick Melnicoe of Davis
Behind the lens: The Narrows of Zion National Park, Utah, was carved over the millenniums by the Virgin River. The top to bottom hike is 16 miles long and can be done as a long day hike or overnight camping. A permit is required. Much of the hike is in shallow water with a few places requiring a short swim. The beauty of the canyon is spectacular with walls reaching over 1,000 feet above you and only 20 to 30 feet wide in a few places. Most visitors hike up from the main park, but miss the true beauty of the farthest reaches of the canyon.

Piedras Blancas elephant seals
The photographer: Bill Chiechi of Sacramento
Behind the lens: This past June my wife and I happened upon the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery along the Central California coast. There were many hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of these seals present along this protected beach. At this time of the year the seals are molting and mainly there are females and juveniles present. We watched many of the juvenile males practicing sparring with one another, a skill they will use to attract females during mating season, once they are mature.

Paramount Theatre, Seattle
The photographer: Lou Padgug of Sacramento
Behind the lens: On a recent trip to Washington state, we saw the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. Unfortunately, we were not there on the day free tours of the interior of this incredibly ornate performing arts venue are offered. While walking along the side of the building, I looked up and this fire escape caught my attention.

Namche Bazaar before the quake
The photographer: Rick Lynch of El Dorado Hills
Behind the lens: When my friend, Kurt Stegen, and I were 18 and had just climbed Mount Whitney, we made a commitment to do something special when we turned 60. In November, we both turned 60 and booked a trekking adventure through REI to Nepal. This is a picture of Namche Bazaar at 3440 m (11,300 ft). We were in Namche eating lunch on April 25 when the earthquake hit. I love to remember Namche in its beauty prior to the quake rather than the destruction on the day of the earthquake.

Yosemite Valley in spring
The photographer: Brian Phillips of Folsom
This was taken on a recent trip that my wife, Shelley, and I made to Yosemite. It was cloudy with occasional rain while we were there, but on the afternoon of May 19, the sun broke out, lighting up a section of Cathedral Rocks. We were driving back to our hotel at the time, and running late for dinner, but when I saw this beautiful light, I immediately pulled over and grabbed a few shots. There are also deer in the meadow in the foreground.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah
The photographer: John Spurr of Davis
Behind the lens: This photo is from a hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The trail leads hikers out to a wonderful area called Chesler Park, which has all kinds of colorful rock formations. Lightning was flashing in a thunderstorm behind the butte on the right.

Cappadocia, Turkey
The photographer: Estrella Parker of Piedmont
Behind the lens: This was taken in Cappadocia, Turkey. Whirling dervishes are followers of Sufism, a religious sect whose mystics believe that ritual spinning will bring them closer to God.

Vancouver, British Columbia
The photographer: Oscar Vallejo of Carmichael
Behind the lens: At Granville Island Market Place in Vancouver, BC we were ready to board our water taxi for a quick ride over to Yaletown for more sightseeing. Vancouver has an enormous amount of condo towers overlooking the city and harbor.

An elephant parade in Tanzania
The photographer: Tom Taylor of Fair Oaks
Behind the lens: We are in Tanzania on the second day of a 15-day photo safari. Our first encounter with wild elephants came in late afternoon in Tarangire National Park when we spotted a herd of about 35 elephants walking single file along the edge of a vast marsh. We pulled to the side of the dirt track in our vehicles and turned off the engines, then watched this line of elephants move quickly along the marsh edge. This shot became one of my favorite photographs from the trip.

Children make river a water park
The photographer: Vic Carbonell of Sacramento
Behind the lens: While cruising with friends along the Dapitan River in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, we came upon this group of kids enjoying their improvised playground. Some were in a bamboo raft, others on the branch of a tree. They were shrieking with laughter and apparently egging one another to jump. They were so engrossed in their pleasure that they did not even look our way as we passed by. The scene brought back memories of my own river adventures when I was young.

Machu Picchu, Peru
The photographer: Marsha A. Robinson of Citrus Heights
Behind the lens: My sister Karen and I journeyed on the Perurail Vistadome to the town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. From there we took a shuttle bus that crisscrossed its way up the mountainside and dropped us at the entrance to the park in the late afternoon. Most visitors had left the park by then. We had only to show our tickets at the ticket booth and walk about a hundred yards into the Lost City of Inca and were greeted by this magnificent view. It just took our breath away.

Pak Beng, Mekong River, Laos
The photographer: Debbie Cole of Curtis Park
Behind the lens: In February 2014, we took a two-day slow boat down the Mekong River in Laos from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. We stopped overnight in the small, rustic village of Pak Beng. This photo was taken at sunrise the morning we left the village and captures the serene and mysterious nature of the river, as well as the mountains and jungle that frame it. Our trip gave us an appreciation of the natural beauty of Laos and the relationship its people have with the mighty Mekong.

The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento
Behind the lens: On one beautiful but windy afternoon, we visited the Horseshoe Bay in Arizona. It was so windy that my wife (shown at left) didn’t dare stand close to the edge of the cliff when this photo was taken. This picture was taken with a fish-eye lens in order to capture the captivating view of the bay.

The photographer: Susan Boring of Sacramento Behind the lens: I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal from 1993-1995. In 2012, I was able to travel back with my husband to share a country that I grew to love so much with him. This picture was taken just outside of Kathmandu during the rice harvest in October. The people are so happy, hard-working, and kind – this picture epitomizes that. As we hear of the tremendous loss due to the recent earthquake, I remember this day fondly and hope that my friends are safe.

The photographer: David Schmitz of North Natomas While in Barcelona we took the train for a one-day visit to Monestir de Monserrat (the Monastery at Monserrat). This picture was taken from the top on the Monserrat (translation: serrated mountains) looking down on the monastery. There is a short and very steep train ride to the top. We arrived at the monastery via a 1.5-mile cable gondola that traveled from the valley below through the clouds to the monastery. The cathedral at Monserrat contains the famous “Black Virgin” statue that has been darkened over the centuries from the burning candles.

The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento Behind the lens: This is one of many captivating photos taken on a recent, fascinating 10-day Mekong Delta Cruise aboard the boutique 28-passenger Toum Toui ll. Shown here is a young woman in a pottery farm in the Cambodian village of Kampong Chhnang. I have traveled frequently and often throughout the world and have never felt more welcome or comfortable then I did in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The photographer: David A. Sauvé of Placerville Behind the lens: This picture was taken on the main north/south road through Yellowstone National Park one August. This big fellow was leading a parade of RVs and campers just a little bigger than him. I thought about reaching out the window when he passed us and grabbing a horn, but discretion trumped valor and I rolled the window up. Taken with an old Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, Ektachrome 400 film.

The photographer: Gary Orr of Sacramento Behind the lens: My wife and I completed a bike and barge vacation from Amsterdam to Cologne. When we arrived in Cologne, we rented a car and wandered the hills from Cologne and followed the Mosel River "Fairly Tale Route" all the way to Luxembourg. We took this photo of the village of Cochem from the courtyard of the 12th century Reichburg castle.

The photographer: David Schmitz of Natomas Park Behind the lens: Parking is at a premium in Rome near the Vatican. This driver was fortunate to find a parking space that fit his/her car across the street from the Castle of the Angels

The photographer: Richard Chamberlain of Oroville Behind the lens: Native people get from island to island in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in dugout canoes called mokoro. These people had just gone to visit a church member who had been ill and were returning to their place of work where my son and I were staying.

The photographer: Michele Dodge of Plymouth Behind the lens: This was a lovely little quay in the northern France town of Honfleur. Several of the Impressionist painters enjoyed this very same view (with different boats, of course). Honfleur is a gorgeous town about an hour’s drive from Omaha Beach. I walked into town in the rain the morning we arrived, saw this lovely view and decided I had to see it after the rain stopped. Luckily, the afternoon cleared up!

The photographer: Anne Eychaner of Carmichael Last September two friends and I spent 13 incredible days rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This amazing view is from Anasazi granaries built into the canyon wall above Nankoweap.

The photographer: Nancy Arkelian of Sacramento Behind the lens: In Vietnam, there are 90 million people and seemingly as many motor scooters, carrying almost everything imaginable. In the countryside we saw this man, who must be one of the most enterprising recycling entrepreneurs in the world.

The photographer: Rick Melnicoe of Davis Behind the lens: Jaguars are the third-largest of the cats and found only in the Americas. While on a trip to the Pantanal of south-central Brazil we were taken by boat to an area on the Cuiabá River where these magnificent jaguars hunt caiman and capybara. This photo was taken of a female who was not too happy that our boat was the only obstacle between it and a family of capybara on the opposite shore.

The photographer: Gus Betancourt of Sacramento Behind the lens: I visited Glass Beach in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg a few months ago and discovered the sea glass created from years of dumping garbage onto an area of coastline near the northern part of the town. Sadly, most of the glass has disappeared, but the nice, quiet and mysterious atmosphere of the town is still intact.

The photographer: Carol Brock of Penryn Behind the lens: At Rum Point on Grand Cayman, we came across this sign on a recent family visit to the island. The sign shows some history of hurricane activity for the islanders. Hurricane Ivan did some major damage to the island when it hit in 2004.

The photographer: Julie Duehring of Folsom Behind the lens: We were on a girls’ trip to Italy in September and decided to take a one-day tour of Tuscany. The highlight was our stop at the beautiful town of Montepulciano, a small, hilly medieval town with many wine cellars, restaurants, and quaint shops. The oldest shop in town, Maltedetti (pictured here), sells leather goods and shoes, but I don’t think the shoes in this photo were for sale!

The photographer: Mary Duplat of Sacramento Behind the lens: My husband, Claude, and I were in Paris this past fall on our honeymoon when we spotted this young woman “doing it all.” It seems women around the world keep the daily business of life moving forward.

The photographer: David Kalb of Davis Behind the lens: The Chateau d’Amboise is situated along the River Loire in France. It is one of more than a dozen large chateaus in the Loire Valley, a region of France that is both historic and beautiful, from one end to the other. Walk along the river late in the day and if the sun and clouds are right you may capture this picturesque reflection. I took more than 250 photos of the four chateaus I visited during my June vacation.

The photographer: Jeff Hendy of El Dorado Hills
Behind the lens: During our recent first trip to Alaska, my wife and I were prepared for glaciers, cool weather, wild animals and quaint small towns. We were not all prepared for the fantastic natural beauty of the state. This photo of Tern Lake, between Anchorage and Homer, is an example of that beauty. The combination of the birch tree, green and snowy mountains, the lake and the light made this a great photo op, and was taken on my Sony NEX5, a small, lightweight interchangeable-lens camera that has totally replaced the bulky DSLRs I used to lug around.

The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento Behind the lens: While spending the day exploring the many sites of Bangkok, I came across a group of local schoolchildren enjoying a day trip to one of the many temples in and around this amazing city. I quickly snapped this photo as they wandered past only to notice afterward the boy and girl happily holding hands.

The photographer: Chris Allan of Sacramento Behind the lens: The morning after a snowstorm, I headed out before dawn, and the vistas around Caples Lake were stunning!

The photographer: Debby Sprigg of Sacramento Behind the lens: Disneyland brings out the inner child in everyone. Seeing it decorated for Christmas is absolutely breathtaking! My Mom and I went earlier this month, and it was incredible, especially Sleeping Beauty's Castle with its sparkling decorations. I was lucky and got a wonderful, unobstructed spot to watch and photograph the fireworks blossom in the sky behind the Castle.

The photographer: Gary Mills of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken while my wife and I were on a small boat on the Dalyan River near Myra, Turkey. There are hundreds of these amazing 4th century B.C. Lycian rock tombs carved high into the cliffs.The photographer: Gary Mills of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken while my wife and I were on a small boat on the Dalyan River near Myra, Turkey. There are hundreds of these amazing 4th century B.C. Lycian rock tombs carved high into the cliffs.

The photographer: Marjorie Lehr of Carmicheal Behind the lens: We have been to Niagara Falls before, but had never experienced the thrilling helicopter ride over the top of both the American and Canadian Falls as we did this vacation. The Horseshoe Falls is the Canadian and the straighter falls is the American Falls. The sight of them is magnificent and the sound intimidating, demonstrating, both visibly and audibly, the incredible power of water.

The photographer: Jim Sargent, Carmichael
Behind the lens: We visited Zion National Park in May and spent one day at the less-visited Kolob Canyons area north of the main park. We hiked 2 1/2 miles up Taylor Creek and at the end we were rewarded with this fantastic cave and 1,000-foot-high red rock walls. Water seeping through

The photographer: Larry Anderson of Granite Bay Behind the lens: I took this photo on a recent trip to Turkey. I was in a hot air balloon just after dawn, above the strange, otherworldly land formations of the Cappadocia region. About 60 balloons were aloft that day, and the scene provides both color and contrast to the fascinating landscape below.

The photographer: James Muir of Sacramento. Behind the lens: English Harbour is a natural harbor and settlement on the Caribbean island of Antigua. The Royal Navy established its base of operations for the area during the eighteenth century. English Harbour is best known for Nelson's Dockyard, which occupies the site of the British Navy base. Named for Horatio Nelson who commanded it during the colonial period 1784 through 1787. The photo was taken after a morning rain in January.

The photographer: Peter Silva of Sacramento. Behind the lens: This photo was taken last May during a beautiful evening in the City of Light. Walking away from our visit at the Eiffel Tower and onto the Jardins du Trocadéro, I couldn’t help noticing the pattern of bridge lights on the Pont d’léna as a perfect complement to the soaring monument behind. Everything in Paris is beautiful and especially at night, when the city glows with vitality and romance unlike any other in the world. A few evenings earlier I proposed to my fiancée, Maria, at Notre Dame Cathedral (she said yes).

The photographer: Dee Stayner of Rancho Cordova. Behind the lens: After shopping at the Mercado Central de San Pedro in Cusco, Peru, I noticed this intriguing man on the steps. He seemed lost in thought, and I was tempted to ask what was on his mind. Or perhaps he was merely another man waiting patiently for his wife to finish shopping. To me, this photo embodies the native culture of the city high in the Andes.

The photographer: Elenamarie O’Malley of Sacramento. Behind the lens: A rock monitor lizard plays hide and seek in Zambia’s Kafue National Park. High up in a tree, this camouflaged creature has the perfect vantage point to find a tasty snack near the Lufupa River.

The photographer: Marion Montgomery of Citrus Heights Behind the lens: Near Mandalay in the province of Amarapura, we visited the famous 200-year-old U Bein Bridge at sunset. Sitting over Taungthamaman Lake, at 1.2 kilometers long it is the longest teak bridge in the world.

The photographer: Brad Brown of Citrus Heights. Behind the lens: Brad Brown writes that Noah Alexander Brown, 2 1/2 years old, and Max Alexander, 79 years young, hiked to Pyramid Peak in the Lake Tahoe area in September. Noah hiked 3 miles, and Max hiked 13 miles. And it looks like God was smiling down on both of them.